Self-tightening rebuilt shoe last



c. H. HEITMAN 2,977,611

SELF-TIGHTENING REBUILT SHOE LAST Filed Jan. 8, 1959 lNl/ENTOE: CLARENCE HHE/TM/JN, 5) W] ?L HTTOQNEYS SELF-TIGHTENING REBUILT SHOE LAST Clarence H. Heitman, 2 York Hills, Brentwood, Mo. Filed Jan. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 785,702

4 Claims. c1. 12-133 This invention relates to rebuilt wooden shoe lasts and,

in particular, is concerned with such a shoe last that has a self-tightening connection for fastening a rebuilt foreportion to the last.

.'In the industry, it has been found to be increasingly costly to obtain suitable wood material to form shoe lasts for use inthe manufacture of shoes. Inasmuch as shoe styles and designs undergo constant changes, and the major number of such changes occur in the toe section of the shoe, a substantial saving may be made by substituting a new toe section, instead of replacing the entire forepart 'of the last.

The usual practice has required the discarding of the forepart of the last and cutting an entire new forepart to be substituted in the original last, entailing not only the expense of the material for the entire new'forepart but, in addition, the expense of cutting to contour the entire substituted part from a new wood block.

In some instances, efforts have been made to save material by retaining a portion of the forepart of the last and replacing only a toe section for the partremoved in the original last, but such practicehas been unsatisfactory because it has been difficult to rebuild lasts in this manner to give sufiicient strength to the lasts to withstand the strains imposed in shoe making.

The problem, therefore, includes the production of a rebuilt last that may be produced economically, in a minimum of time without exacting manufacturing tolerances, and which will withstand the strains imposed on the last in use by imparting to the rebuilt last a'strength substantially equal to the strength of a last in which the forepart is originally formed as a unit. v a

A general object of the invention, therefore, is to providesuch a last an'd a method of making it thatwill save-labor and material and in which the parts may be assembled and the -toe portion finished to contourin an economical manner, therebyproducing arebuilt last that will hold up in serviceto substantially the same extent I as willa last originally formed of a';unitary forepartr section made'from a single block of wood.

I n -m'y prior application for patent, Rebuilt Wooden 1 Shoe Lasts And MethodOfMa'kingThe Same, Serial No. 662,447, 'filed ay 29; 1957'; now 'United States Patent No. 2,874,394, granted February- 24, 1 959; and of whichthe'instant application is a continuation-impart,

there was disclosed afmeans forfcon'necting a new torepart or toe section of *a-las't "to, a 'cut downsectionfof a last by means of a' metal link. fitted withinvtmatin g slots of the two components and joined by dowel pins fitting transversely through the two components and into holes at oppositerendsoithelink to provide a firm connection.

Byi'the'instant invention, there has been provide'da: self centering link connection made inthe torm of a biased spring-like link in which a dowel pinfhav'ing a tapered end maybe driven into one en d of-the link and by virtue of a camining action, formed between the tapered 'sides' of the. dowel pimthe hole an'd the link, tend 'to I straighten it out and draw the forepart section'up against bodiment.

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Patented Apr. 4:, 15353 advantageous and improved manner of drawing the forepart section up to the last and has greatly aided in facilitating the setting of the cement between these two sections, which is used in their connection.

It is accordingly a further object of this invention to provide a rebuilt wooden shoe last in which a toe section may be connected to a main portion of the shoe last by a biased metal pin, which is connected at its opposite end to each of the main portions of the lasts and the forepart under tension.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a rebuilt wooden shoe last and method for making it in which a forepart'is joined to a main portion of the last by means of abiased metal pin in which the ends of the pin are held in the main portion of the last and the forepart respectively and in the connecting operation a ta.- pered dowel pin is driven through a hole in one end of the biased metal pin to force it into a connecting relationship under tension.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a rebuilt wooden shoe last and method of making the same in'which a forepart may be joined to a main portion of a shoe last by a biased metal link under tension through a self-centeringconnecting means, which does not require close tolerances and can be employed by, relatively unskilled workmen with a minimum of labor and expense.

Further objects of this invention will appear in the detailed description which follows and will be otherwise apparent to those skilled in the .art.

For the purpose of illustration of this invention there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred emarefor the purpose of example and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a self-tightening rebuilt wooden shoe last madeaccording to this invention in which the biased link is shown in dashed lines and the original toe replacement piece before shaping is shown in extended dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a view in section taken along .the line 2'2 of Figure 1 showing the means for connecting the biased connecting link to the toe section;

Figure 3 is a view in section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 showing the means for connecting a metallink I ofJFigure' 4 showing, the means for connecting the link. to the toe section;

Figure dis a' fragmentary view in'vertical section taken longitudinally through the forward portion of the main forepart portion of the last and showing a slot therein -to r'eceive'the connecting link'and a transverse hole for receiving the dowel pin; 1

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are progression views showing the mechanism employed in the self-tightening operation to join the connecting link between the toe section and the main portion of the shoe last with the-toe section and the main portion be'ing'deleted for'purpose of simplicity; Figure 7 thus shows a preliminary connection'between the connecting link and the toe section in which the dowel pin anchors-the connecting link inthe toe section;

' Figure 8 shows somewhat-schematically the operation as a'dowel pin isinserted through the'main portion of the last'to where the tapered head of the dowel pin first meets the,,hole in theendof thelink through which it is designed to pass; and

5 Figure 9 shows the configuration ofthe self-tightening link after the dowelpin has been passed through the It is to'be understood that these drawings opening in the end of the link and the main portion of the rebuilt last and shows the self-tightening link in an expanded and tensioned condition for holding the main portion 'of the last and the toe section tightly against one another.

The rebuilt wooden shoe last of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20. As shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that the rebuilt last includes a heel section 21, and a rear portion 22 of an original forepart of the conventional wooden hinged shoe last. The toe section of the original forepart of the last has been removed by severing it from the original forepart of the last by a saw cut that preferably forms an angular face having a lower portion 23 substantially vertical with a forwardly inclined surface 24. The vertical surface 23 is relatively short, but the surface 24 inclines upwardly a sufficient distance to form an overhanging shoulder with sufficient material above the jointure of the surfaces to resist vertical strains at the joint between the new toe section to be added and the remaining part of the forepart of the old last piece.

After the toe section has been removed and the forward face formed as above-described, a slot 26 is formed and preferably positioned as shown at the apex of the angle of the face. This slot extends into the body a limited distance, and a transverse bore hole 27 is formed in the body near the rear end of the slot.

A block of wood designated by the reference numeral 30 to be employed as a new toe section has its rear face formed to present an angular surface complementary to the surface of the forward face of the block 22. These faces are designated 23 and 24' and mate with the faces 23 and 24 in the forward angular face of the remaining portion 'of the forepart of the last. The new block 30 has formed therein a slot 31 that matches with the slot 26 and likewise has a transverse bore hole 33 lying at the forward end of the slot 31.

After the forward face of the part 22 and the rear face of the block 30 have been formed and before the block 30 is machined and cut to the required contour of the new toe section, a self-tightening reinforcing link 36 is employed to join these two sections together tightly in a cementing operation. The link 36 is of a bowed configuration and is provided with two openings or eyelets 37 and 38 at opposed ends of an intermediate bowed section 39. These openings are for the reception of anchoring dowel pins whereby the links may be connected to the part 22 and the block 36 as will be hereinbelow described.

In the first stage of operation and as shown in Figures 4, and 7, the reinforcing link 36 is connected to the block 30 by inserting the link with one end fitting in the slot 31. Subsequently, a tapered dowel pin 41 is inserted through the bore hole 33 into the eyelet 38 of the link.

In the next stage of'the operation the block 30 in the condition shown'in Figure 4 is covered'with a layer of cement or other suitable adhesive material, as shown at 43, with it being understood that the two surfaces 23' and 24 are both so covered. Then theblock is brought up against the mating surfaces in the part 22 with the rear end of the link being inserted. in the slot 26. This condition corresponds generally to Figure 7. Subsequently, in the next operation a dowel pin 44 having a tapered end 45 is inserted in the bore hole 27 of part 22. As the tapered end 45 approaches the rear end eyelet 37 the condition is'that shown in Figure 8. It will be particularly noted that in'referring to Figure 8 the distance between the'bore holes .27 and 33 is slightly greaterthan the distance between the rear interior portions of the eyelets 37 and 38. Thus, by insertion of the dowjel pin 44 through the bore hole 27 itwill be seen. that the tapered portion 45 contacts the 'rear interior surface 40of the rear eyelet 37 and in so doing forces it. slightly to the rear as shown in Figure9. Because of the bowed configuration of thers'elf-tightening link 36 it is caused to assume the biased condition shown in Figure 9 to force the toe section 30 tightly against the part 22 in the assembled condition of Figures 1 and 9.

Thus, by the construction and method of assembly as shown above, it will be seen that the forepart 30 is connected to the part 22 in a self-tightening relationship by connecting the dowel pin to the link 36. This tightened relationship greatly aids in the setting of the cement and provides a reinforced structure that fully resists the normal strains imposed on the last in use. Although the method of construction shown above started initially with the connection of the link to the toe block 30, it will be obvious that the reverse operation in connecting the link first of all to the part 22 can also be employed where desired. It will also be apparent that where desired for any additional strength once the rebuilt wooden shoe last has been fully joined and the cement has set, wooden reinforcing dowel pins may be inserted into longitudinal drill holes connecting the part 22 and the block 30, as will be well understood in the art, without disturbing or detracting from the above-mentioned self-tightening connection.

After the parts have been connected as described above, it is only necessary to machine the block 30 to the configuration shown in full lines in Figure 1 to form the desired contour of the toe section of the last.

From the above description, it will be understood that there is a substantial saving in material and that the parts can be readily and securely assembled in a self-tightening relationship and held together without the requirement of rigorous tolerances and that the cutting operation for the new toe portion of the forepart of the last can be readily accomplished by standard equipment.

In addition, if it is desired to make further changes, the construction lends itself to being diassembled and the new part substituted, as it is only necessary to remove the pins to release the link, and break the cemented joint, without injuring the forepart portion of the last.

Various changes and modifications may be made in this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A rebuilt wooden shoe last including a recut face in the forepart of the last to provide a transverse vertical Wall extending normal to the tread surface of the last, a recut toe section to provide a complementary face fitted against the recut face of the forepart of the last, aligned coextensive slots formed in the forepart of the last and the recut toe section respectively, said slots extending longitudinally inside the last, and means for holding said too section and forepart tightly together comprising a biased link having one end secured to the forepart and an opposite end secured to the toe section, said link being of a naturally bowed configuration and biasable to a less bowed configuration to effect a tightening action upon the toe section and forepart.

' 2. A rebuilt wooden shoe last including a recut face in the-forepart of the last to provide a transverse vertical wall extending normal to the tread surface of the last, a recut to-e section to provide a complementary face fitted against the recut face of the forepart of the last, aligned coextensive slots formed in the forepart of the last and the recut toe section respectively, said slots extending longitudinally inside the last, and means for holding said too section and forepart tightly together comprising a biased link disposed within said slots in concealed rela tion and joining the forepart and toe sections, said link having openings in the opposite ends thereof, transverse openings in said forepart and toe sections of the last, and

a dowel pin seated in each of said transverse openings and through said openings in said link, respectively, said link being of a naturally bowed configuration and biasable to a less bowed configuration to effect a tightening-action upon the toe section and forepart.

3. A rebuilt wooden shoe last including a recut face in the forepart of the last to provide a transverse vertical wall extending normal to the tread surface of the last, a recut toe section to provide a complementary face fitted against the recut face of the forepart of the last, aligned coextensive slots formed in the forepart of the last and the recut toe section respectively, said slots extending longitudinally inside the last, and means for holding said toe section and forepart tightly together comprising a biased link disposed within said slots in concealed relation and joining the forepart and toe sections, said link having openings in theopposite ends thereof, transverse openings in said forepart and toe sections of the last, and a dowel pin seated in each of said transverse openings and through said openings in said link, respectively, said link being of a naturally bowed configuration and biasable to a less bowed configuration to eifect a tightening action upon the toe section and forepart.

4. A rebuilt wooden shoe last including a recut face in the forepart of the last to provide a transverse vertical 20 wall extending normal to the tread surface of the last, a recut toe section to provide a complementary face fitted against the recut face of the forepart of the last, aligned 6 coextensive slots formed in the forepart of the last and the recut toe section respectively, said slots extending longitudinally inside the last, and means for holding said toe section and forepart tightly together comprising a biased link disposed within said slots in concealed relation and joining the forepart and toe sections, said link having openings in the opposite ends thereof, transverse openings in said forepart and toe sections of the last separated by a distance slightly greater than the distance between the openings of the link in its unbiased condition, and a dowel pin seated in each of said transverse openings and through said openings in said link, respectively, at least one of said dowel pins having a tapered end, said link being of a naturally bowed configuration and biasable to a less bowed configuration to eflect a tightening action upon the toe section and forepart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,460,679 McNichol July 3, 1923 1,553,458 Millay Sept. 15, 1925 2,874,394 Heitman Feb. 24, 1959 

